Superheater header



Oct. 20, 1936. w; H NE 5T1 AL 2,058,041

, SUPERHEATER HEADER Filed July 24, 1935 INV ENTOR MLL/AM SAM/V6, BY FRAA/ M JM/Tfi,

Patented Oct. 20, 1936 NiTED STATES SUPERHEATER HEADER William Shane, Paterson, andfFrank W. Smith, Teaneck, N. J., assignors to The Superheater Company, New York, N. Y.

Application July 24,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to heat transfer apparatus and particularly to an improved inlet header for superheaters and the like.

In superheaters and similar apparatus where steam is admitted to an inlet or distributing header from one end thereof it has been found that the outlet tubes adjacent the inlet are apt to deteriorate and burn out more quickly than others more remote from the inlet. This appears to be due to the fact that steam entering the inlet at the end of the header is carried past the outlet tubes adjacent the inlet due to the velocity of the steam, especially when the. steam enters at high velocity. As a result, the tubes adjacent the inlet receive less than their proportionate amount of steam and are not sufiiciently protected thereby against the high temperature to which they are subjected.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to efiect a more equal distribution of steam among the tubes of a superheater or similar apparatus. In carrying out the invention this resuit is attained by providing deflecting devices in the header that act to retard the steam entering the header and direct increased quantities of steam to the outlet tubes adjacent the inlet. In the. drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a superheater embodying the invention and shows the inlet header and outlet tubes connected thereto, together with the steam deflecting means.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 5 are views similar to Figure 1 and illustrate other arrangements according to the invention;

Figures 4 and 6 are transverse sectional views of the arrangements shown in Figs. 3 and 5 respectively; and

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view showing the invention applied to a superheater header having parallel rows of tube openings into which the outlet tubes are connected.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is shown as embodied in a superheater having an inlet header l2 to which steam is admitted through an inlet I 0 at one end thereof. The steam flows from the header through outlet tubes l4, I6 connected into openings iii in the side wall of the header, the tube openings being disposed in a longitudinal row or in several parallel rows. Deflectors 20 on the wall 22 of the header opposite the openings l8 project into the path of the steam and act to retard its flow somewhat. The

1935, Serial No. 32,828

deflectors 20 extend transversely of the header wall 22 and are positioned to direct steam toward and into the outlet tubes M adjacent the inlet so that sufiicient steam passes through these tubes to protect them. Further, the location of the deflectors 20 on the wall 22 opposite the tube openings i8 obviates undesirable concentration of impurities carried by the steam on the header wall about the openings near the inlet, or in the corresponding tubes.

The deflectors are preferably formed integrally with the header but may be separately formed. In the form shown in Figures 3 and 4 the deflectors 2|! for the tubes M are carried by a plate 24 secured in any suitable manner on the inner surface of the header wall 22. In Figures 5 and 6 the individual deflectors 20 have separate bases 26 mounted in openings 28 in the header wall 22.

Where several parallel rows of tube openings l8 are provided as illustrated in Figure '7 the deflectors 20a for tubes in one row are preferably spaced transversely of the header from the deflectors 20b for the tubes in the other row, or rows, so that there is a gap transversely of the header between the deflectors for a tube opening in one row and one in another, whether the openings in the parallel rows are aligned or staggered. Thus, an obstructed passage is provided axially of the header through which steam may flow freely to the tubes H1, or IE, more remote from the inlet.

If desired, deflectors 20 may be provided which decrease in size in the direction of steam flow; that is, the deflectors for the tube [4 nearest the inlet would project further into the header than that for the next tube, etc. This retards the steam flow sufficiently to compensate for the greater velocity at points near the inlet by causing larger quantities of steam to flow through the tubes that are ordinarily subjected to the most intense temperatures. However, none of the deflectors project so far into the steam path as toobstruct the flow of steam to such an extent as to form eddies that would result in causing the steam to skip the next tube I4 nor to deprive the tubes I6 further along their header of their proper share of steam.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in' detail there are many changes and variations that may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and, therefore, it is desired and intended to include all such changes and variations within the scope of the following claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a steam distributing header having a steam inlet at one end thereof; a plurality of outlet tubes connected into openings formed in the side wall of the header and arranged in a pair of parallel rows extending longitudinally of the header; and steam deflecting means projecting into the steam path from the header wall and extending transversely of the header opposite each of said openings for directing steam toward and into the tubes connected thereto, the deflecting means for a tube opening in one row being spaced transversely of the header from the defleeting means for a tube opening in the other row to provide an unobstructed steam passage therebetween along the header through which steam may flow to tube openings further away from said inlet.

2. In a steam distributing header having a steam inlet at one end thereof; a plurality of tubes connected into pairs of aligned openings formed in the side wall of said header at varying distances from said inlet; and means projecting into the steam path from the header wall opposite said openings having steam deflecting portions that are disposed transversely of the header opposite a pair of aligned openings for directing steam toward and into the tubes connected thereto, said deflecting portions being separated by a gap through which steam may flow freely to pairs of tube openings further away from said inlet.

WILLIAM SHANE. FRANK W. SMITH. 

